Soap-bubble blower.



No. 688,376. x Patented Dec. 10, l90l. C. EpALHARTI SOAP BUBBLE BLOWER. (Application filed Aug. 12, 1901.\

(No Ilo'dal.)

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CLARENCE E. ALHART, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

SOAP-BUBBLE BLOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,376, dated December 10, 1901. Application filed August 12, 1901. Serial No- 71,'702;. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. ALHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soap-Bubble Blowers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a device for blowin g soap bubbles.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be simple of construction, inexpensive of produc tion, and by means of which at each moistenmg a large number of bubbles of maximum size may be produced.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are opposite end views of a bubble-blower embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section .of the same, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the grooved disk.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates ablower-tube having flattened ends'or heads2 and 3. This tube is formed with a longitudinal main channel 4 and a longitudinal auxiliary channel 5. These channels open to the exterior through the induction end or head 2 of the tube and thence extend in parallel relation to a point adjacent to the eduction end 3 of the tube, where the channel 4 opens into a flaring concavity 6 and the channel 5 has a lateral terminal communicating with the channel 4 and concavity 6 at their point of intersection. The purpose of the concavity 6 is to allow the bubble to form and expand as it issues from the channel 4 and that of the channel to form a by-pass whereby air alone may be supplied after the bubble has been formed to expand the bubble Without forcing out a further supply of soap and water. By this means an excess supply of the bubble-forming material 9 and 10, which are designed to be saturated 1 with water. These pieces of absorbent material are of such size as to leave sufficient space between them and the wall of the channel 4 to allow of the outward passage of the soapy water and are spaced apart a suitable distance to form a space or chamber 11 for the reception of a small piece of soap. This soap is gradually dissolved by the water carried by the sponges to form the soapy liquid from which the bubbles are produced. It desired, both sponges may be removed and saturated with Water; but ordinarily it is found thatitis necessary to only saturate the sponge 9, as the excess water carried thereby and deposited in the channel 4 is carried outward by the pressure of the air and by gravity when the tube is held ata downward inclination and taken up by the sponge 10. By thus arranging the sponges on opposite sides of the soap-chamber ll waste of water is prevented, while at thesame time the softened soap is thinned out to the desired extent and the feed of an excess amount of the same to the concavity 6 avoided. The sponge 9 and its stem 7 are used as a rammer to force the soap from the induction end of the channel 4 into the soap-chamber 11.

The stem 7 is connected at its outer end to a head or disk 12, which bears against the'end 2 of the tube and provides a handpiece whereby said stem with the sponge attached thereto may be readily applied and removed. This disk 12 is provided with openings 13 and 14 to coincide with the channels 4 and 5. A head or disk 15 bears against the end 3 of the tube, and to this disk the outer end of the stem may be attached, if desired, although this is not essential. This disk 15 has'a bubbubbles will adhere, to prevent said bubble from breaking up before it becomes fully expanded and to adapt the device for use in catching bubbles floating in the air.

The operation is as follows: After a supply of soap has been placed in the chamber 11 and the sponges saturated with water and arranged as shown in Fig. 3 the operator blows first through the opening 13 in the disk 12 to force a currentof air through the channel 4, whereby a sufiicient supply of soapsaturated water to form a bubble is carried to the outer end of said channel and allowed to expand into the concavityG to start the formation of the bubble. At this point the operator ceases to blow into the channel 4 and blows through the opening 1-1 in the disk 12 into the channel 5, by which a current of air alone is supplied to the said concavity 6 to expand the bubble, which is forced out through the opening 16 in the disk 15 and adheres to the soap or material in the groove 17 until it attains its maximum size, when it becomes detached and floats off into the air. By the exercise of some skill the floating bubble may be caught and again caused to adhere to the disk 15, affording considerable interest and amusement to the user.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a soap-bubble blower, the combination of a tube provided at its eduction end with a bubble-forming cavity and having main and auxiliary air-chambers communicating with said cavity, a disk upon the eduction end of the tube having an eduction-opening in line with the cavity, stems projecting into the main channel from the opposite ends thereof and provided at their inner ends with absorbent material spaced to form an intermediate space for a supply of soap, and a disk bearing against the induction end of the tube and connected to the outer end of the adjacent stem and provided with openings to register with the main and auxiliary channels, substantially as set forth.

2. In a soap-bubble blower, the combination of a tube provided at its eduction end with a bubble-forming cavity and having main and auxiliary air-chambers communicating with said cavity, a disk upon the eduction end of the tube having an eduction-opening in line with the cavity, and provided in its outer face with a groove containing a material to which the bubble will adhere, stems projecting into the main channel from the opposite ends thereof and provided at their inner ends with absorbent material spaced to form an intermediate space for a supply of soap, and a disk bearing against the induction end of the tube and connected to the outer end of the adjacent stem and provided with openings to register with the main and an xiliary channels,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- YIGSSQS.

CLARENCE E. ALI'IART.

Witnesses:

H A. NICHOLS, J. '1. SMITH. 

